Method for on-line parts ordering

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a method of selling replacement parts for a product over a computer network including providing a plurality of product manufacturer selection options for a customer to select from, receiving a manufacturer selection of one of the product manufacturers, providing a plurality of product selections for the customer to select from, receiving a product selection of one of the products, providing a schematic illustrating a plurality of component parts of the product with associated reference identifiers, receiving a selection of at least one of the component parts, providing a description of the component part selected, including at least one name for the component part and at least one part number for the component part.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation Application that claims priority to U.S. Ser. No.10/752,879 filed Jan. 6, 2004, herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to on-line ordering of component parts,and in particular to the on-line ordering of component parts for gunsfrom a supplier.

Gun owners have always had difficulties in replacing parts in theirguns. Guns are often complex mechanical devices with a great number ofsmall and specialized parts. Although there are some basic similaritiesbetween guns of all makes and all models, many of these small andspecialized parts are unique to a particular gun, make or model, makingthem difficult to identify by name or function. In addition, none ofthese parts have part numbers on them, so identification of a part is bymemory, by review of factory books which are often out of date, or bycontacting someone who might know. Thus, gun owners have always haddifficulties in obtaining replacement parts.

Even experienced gunsmiths also have encountered difficulties in theordering of parts. A gunsmith may have a gun part that needs replacing,but still cannot identify the part because a part number is not placedon the part. Thus, a gunsmith would still need to answer the question of“What is this part in my hand?” To do so, a gunsmith would typicallyplace a call to a mail order gun supplier. If the gun supplier isclosed, the gunsmith might not call back or might not order. Thegunsmith who needs to get the job done would likely find an answer totheir question no matter what.

It is further noted that customers, particularly retail customers havedifficulties going directly to a gun factory to obtain replacementparts. Gun factories typically do not want to deal directly with retailcustomers. Therefore, the response time, payment policies, and shippingpolicies for gun factories are not generally conducive to serving theretail customer, and typically discourage contacts directly with retailcustomers. What is needed is a convenient method for ordering of gunparts.

Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the presentinvention to provide a method for on-line ordering of parts.

Another object, feature or advantage of the present invention is toprovide a convenient and intuitive method that allows customers toidentify and order gun parts.

Yet another object, feature and advantage of the present invention is toprovide a method for customers to order gun parts without knowing properpart names or model numbers.

A still further object, feature and advantage of the present inventionis to provide a method that allows for ordering of restricted gun partsto authorized customers.

It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present inventionto provide a potential customer with the ability to order parts on-line24 hours a day.

These and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the presentinvention become apparent from the specification and claims that follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a method of selling replacement partsfor products over a computer network. Using the methodology of thepresent invention a customer can conveniently identify and orderreplacement parts for a product such as a gun or other firearm product.In one embodiment, the method includes a step of providing a pluralityof product manufacturer selection options for customers to select fromand then receiving a manufacturer selection from one of the productmanufacturers. The next step is providing a plurality of part selectionsfor the customer to select from and then receiving a product selectionof one of the products. The method provides a schematic illustrating aplurality of component parts of the product with associated referenceidentifiers and receiving a selection of at least one of the componentparts. The method also includes providing a description of componentparts selected, including at least one name for the component part andat least one part number for the component part.

The present invention also includes a method of ordering parts for agun. According to the method, a customer visits a web site associatedwith a gun supplier. The customer also identifies a physical gun part tobe placed. The physical gun part is not labeled with an identifying partnumber, but has a known manufacturer and a known model number. Thecustomer selects the known manufacturer and the known model number fromthe web site. The customer then receives from the web site a schematicof the gun. The customer compares the physical gun part to be replacedto the schematic of the gun in order to match the physical gun part witha gun part illustrated within the schematic. The customer then selects alink on the schematic to receive an associated description of theselected gun part. The customer can then select a link to initiate anordering process to order a replacement gun part matching the physicalgun part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overview of the methodology according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is one embodiment of a screen display for selecting amanufacturer.

FIG. 3 is one embodiment of a screen display for selecting a productfrom a manufacturer.

FIG. 4 is one embodiment of a screen display showing a schematicaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is one embodiment of a screen display of the present inventionshowing information about particular parts.

FIG. 6 is one embodiment of a screen display of the present inventionshowing that certain parts are factory restricted or not available.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is now described in a preferred embodiment. Thepresent invention is not limited to the specific embodiment describedherein. Instead, the invention should only be limited by the full scopeof the invention as claimed and any equivalents thereto.

In FIG. 1, an overview of one embodiment of the methodology of thepresent invention is shown. In step 110, a list of manufacturers ofdifferent products is provided so that a customer or other user canselect one of the manufacturers in step 110 associated with a particularcomponent or gun part. In step 112, a screen display providing selectionoptions for a customer to select a product or model associated with themanufacturer or make is displayed. Once the product is selected in step112, then in step 114, the schematic for the product is displayed. Theschematic includes a plurality of component parts. The component partscan be identified with a reference identifier such as a referencenumber. The customer can select these reference numbers. Once one of thereference numbers is selected, then in step 116 information concerningthat part is provided. Information can include the reference number, oneor more part numbers, including the factory part number and previousfactory part numbers, a stock number, and a product name or productdescription. A quantity of product to order for each product and a buybutton can also be present. The present invention also contemplates thatthe reference identifiers are in numeric or alpha numeric order. In apreferred embodiment, the names of the components are alphabetized andthen referenced identifiers are assigned. The present invention alsocontemplates that in step 116 there is an indication that the part is afactory restricted part which is not available to order by all persons.For example, the part may only be orderable by a police officer orcertain government officials.

FIG. 2 illustrates a screen display 120 for selecting a manufacturer.The present invention contemplates that in addition to providing aplurality of manufacturer selections, a web page such as screen display120 includes an area 122 that allows a customer to search products. Anarea 124 allows member customers to login by entering a login ID 126 anda password 128. The login feature of the present invention can be usedto authorize ordering of restricted parts or verifying that therestricted parts can be order. In addition, there is an area 130 thatallows a customer to join an email list by entering their email address.

A plurality of manufacturer 132 are displayed. The names and/or logosfor each of the manufacturers can be displayed with a link toproduct-related web pages for each specific manufacturer. The presentinvention contemplates links of various kinds, including hypertextlinks, image maps, links implemented through scripting and otherimplementations.

FIG. 3 illustrates a screen display 40. In the screen display 40, aplurality of product selections are shown. Products shown are variousguns. There are multiple product categories including an auto loadingpistol category 142, a rifle category 144, and a shotgun category 146.Within each category there are various product selections. The productselections can be selected through hypertext links, scripts, or otherimplementations. For example, under the auto loading pistol category 142there are a plurality of auto loading pistol products 148. Similarly,under the rifle category 144, there are a plurality 150 of rifleproducts.

FIG. 4 illustrates a web page 60. The web page 60 includes a schematic164 for a previously selected product. The schematic includes aplurality of parts which are identified with a reference identifier suchas a reference numeral. The schematic can be printed by selecting theprint button 162. Thus, a user can print the schematic 164 if need be tohelp identify parts and the parts corresponding reference identifier. Ina preferred embodiment the parts of the product are identified withreference numerals that are ordered by the alphabetical order of thecorresponding part names. If schematics are obtained from manufacturers,the schematics will need to be scanned or otherwise put in a digitalform and the schematic will be numbered or renumbered. Permission fromthe manufacturers should also be obtained.

In FIG. 5, a web page 180 is shown. The web page 180 lists informationabout various parts associated with a gun product. The description 181can include the reference identifier 182, part number 184, a productname or description 186, a price associated with the component part 188,and a quantity of component parts 190 to be ordered. A buyer can changethe quantity of a partial or part being ordered. The part number 184preferably includes current factory part numbers as well as previousfactory part numbers. This is advantageous as factories in the industrywill renumber parts which can create great confusion as to what theproper part number for a particular component part is. In addition tothese current and previous factory part numbers, a stock number can alsobe given that is used by the supplier. A buy button 192 is placed nextto each component part so that a customer can quickly and easily order aparticular part. In addition, a favorite button 194 is also convenientlyplaced so that a registered customer can associate a particularcomponent part with a listing of favorites to provide easieraccessibility. Also, there is a column 196 for providing moreinformation about a particular component part as may be needed in aparticular instance.

FIG. 6 illustrates another screen display 200. The web page shown in 200can be the same web page shown in FIG. 5 but merely scrolled to thebottom of the web page. It should be noted that in FIGS. 5 and 6, theproducts are organized based on their reference identifiers. Theirreference identifiers are also alphabetically ordered by thecorresponding component part name.

As shown in FIG. 6, for each component part product there is also a linktypically entitled “FITS” that links to a web page illustrating the gunproducts that the component part can be used in. This link can be usefulin a variety of circumstances and provide another convenient mechanismfor buyers to find the parts they need.

The present invention also provides for situations that occur whenparticular parts are not available to the general buying public. Forexample, area 202 lists component parts that are factory restricted andtherefore typically not available. The present invention contemplates,however, that through proper security and authorization procedures, onewho is qualified to buy factory restricted parts can do so.

In addition, there is an area 204 for a listing of parts that are notavailable for reasons other than factory restriction. This can includethe fact the parts may not be made, such as the factory never intendedfor such component parts to ever need to be replaced, there is ashortage of parts, or for other reasons.

Thus, it should be apparent that the present in invention provides amethod of selling replacement parts for a product over a computernetwork such as the internet. The method is effectuated by providing aplurality of product manufacture selection options for a customer toselect from. Thus, a customer can select a product manufacturer. Thismanufacturer selection of the part manufacturer is received over thecomputer network. Upon receipt of the manufacturer selection, thepresent invention provides a plurality of product selections for thecustomer to select from. Then, the customer can select one of theproducts and once the product selection is received, can provide aschematic illustrating the component parts of the product. The componentparts have associated reference identifiers, such as reference numeralsto identify the part.

The reference identifiers can be hypertext links, or preferably theselinks are implemented through image maps associated with the referenceidentifiers or the parts themselves so that the customer can select oneor more of these component parts. The present invention contemplatesvarious other means of implementation including scripting. Once aselection of these component parts is received over the network, thedescription of the component part is provided. This description caninclude the name of the component part, one or more part numbers of acomponent part, and other information.

The present invention thus provides a method for a customer or potentialcustomer to order parts for a gun. The customer would need to merelyidentify the physical gun part to be replaced. The customer would nothave to know a particular part number which is important because thephysical gun part would not include an identifying part number. Thecustomer only has to know the manufacturer and the model of the gun. Thecustomer then visits a web site associated with a gun supplier. Then,from this web site, the customer selects the known manufacturer from theweb site and the known model number from the web site. The customer thenreceives from the web site a schematic of the gun. The customer thencompares the physical gun part to be replaced to the parts shown in theschematic of the gun. The customer then selects a link on the schematicto receive an associated description of the selected gun or part. Thisinformation can be used by a customer to increase their knowledge andunderstanding of the gun parts and also as a verification that they haveselected the gun part that they intended to select. Then, the customerselects a link to initiate an ordering process to order a replacementgun part that matches the associated description and matches thephysical gun part.

Therefore, methods for on-line ordering of gun parts have beendisclosed. The present invention contemplates numerous variations in theweb pages themselves, the type of reference identifiers used, the typeof links (i.e., hypertext links, image maps, and other types of links)and other variations within the spirit and scope of the invention nowclaimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of selling replacement gun parts over a computer network, comprising: providing a plurality of gun product selection options for a customer to select from; receiving a product selection of one of the gun products; providing over the computer network and to the customer an interactive schematic illustrating a plurality of component parts of the gun product; receiving a selection from the interactive schematic of at least one of the component parts of the gun product over the computer network.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a description of the component part selected, including at least one name for the component part and at least one part number for the component part.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the description includes more than one name associated with the component part.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the interactive schematic includes reference identifiers associated with the component parts.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the reference identifiers being selectable reference numerals.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the schematic is an exploded view.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an order for the component part from the customer.
 8. A method of selling replacement gun parts over a computer network, comprising: providing a web site for the customer to visit to order a replacement gun part; providing a plurality of gun product selection options for the customer to select from; receiving a product selection of one of the gun products over the computer network; providing over the computer network an interactive schematic illustrating a plurality of component parts of the gun product; receiving a selection by the customer from the interactive schematic of at least one of the component parts over the computer network.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a description of the component part selected, including at least one name for the component part and at least one part number for the component part.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing an indication that the component is a restricted component.
 11. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving an order for the component part from the customer.
 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the description includes more than one name associated with the component part.
 13. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one part number of the description includes at least one manufacturer part number.
 14. The method of claim 9 wherein the part number of the description includes more than one manufacturer part number.
 15. The method of claim 9 wherein the schematic is an exploded view of the gun product.
 16. The method of claim 8 further comprising authorizing ordering of the restricted component.
 17. The method of claim 8 further comprising selectable reference identifiers on the interactive schematic.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the reference identifiers are numerals.
 19. A method of ordering parts for a gun, comprising: visiting a web site associated with a gun supplier; identifying a physical gun part to be replaced, said physical gun part not including an identifying part number, the gun having a known manufacturer and a known model number; selecting the known manufacturer from the web site; selecting the known model number from the web site; receiving from the web site an interactive schematic of the gun; comparing the physical gun part to be replaced to the interactive schematic of the gun; matching the physical gun part with a gun part illustrated within the interactive schematic; selecting location on the interactive schematic to receive an associated description of the selected gun part; selecting a link to initiate an ordering process to order a replacement gun part matching the associated description and matching the physical gun part. 